Senior Procurement Category Manager

Job Introduction

Love food? Got a passion for procurement? We’re looking for an ambitious and passionate Senior Category Manager to join our Food Procurement team.

Looking after a spend of circa £60-70m you’ll be keen to make an impact on efficiency and bottom line spend whilst ensuring we meet our corporate and social responsibilities with an ethical sourcing strategy.

Responsible for category strategy you’ll be able to identify efficiencies and implement a high performing supply chain, you’ll deliver a quality service to the Sodexo segments and build strong relationships internally and externally. You’ll balance this strategic approach with the day to day tactical management of the category, often working with complex supply chains and requests from colleagues and co-workers. You’ll bring the ability to juggle multiple priorities and the mindset of rolling up your sleeves to get stuck in!

 In this senior role you’ll play a huge part in developing and mentoring our talent of the future.

If you’re looking for a role where you can make a difference, add significant value and build your future career this could be the role for you!

You’ll be home based with some travel required to Sodexo offices, sites and suppliers.

Role Responsibility

• To lead a sourcing strategy across the UK & ROI covering both technical and quality requirements for the service line requirements  
• Design and Implement category strategies which significantly improve the commercial performance at a regional level whilst maintaining compliance to company policy and standards and mitigating all risk.
• Engage with the global buying teams in an active collaboration for developing categories globally
• Build a strong network within the Supply Management both at a regional and local level
• Build a strong network within Service Operations at a regional level 
• Be able to take into account the differences between the UK and ROI geographical requirements and business needs when developing the sourcing strategy
• Design and implement adequate strategies to achieve high performance meanwhile ensuring continuity and risk mitigation
• Ensure the relevant due diligence and buying process is adopted across all categories within remit.

The Ideal Candidate

• Proven experience in a result orientated Procurement, Buying or Category Management role, delivering ambitious cost savings
• Ability in working in a multi-cultural and matrix environment
• Proven-track records in complex contract negotiation
• Graduate calibre with CIPS/ISM or equivalent qualification preferred
• Excellent external networking capabilities and presentation skills 
• Team player with excellent communication and influencing skills
• Financial acumen and result orientated with ability to present results in a structured and professional manner
• Strong project management skills
• Fluency in English; French / Spanish a plus.
• Flexible for international travel where necessary

Competencies

• Growth, client & customer satisfaction, quality of services provided
• Leadership and people management
• Rigorous management of results
• Innovation and Change
• Commercial Awareness

Package Description

From £65,000 plus excellent benefits 

We also offer Sodexo Discounts site promoting discounted mobile phone tariffs, savings across restaurant chains and days out, where you and your family can save money on everything from your weekly food shop to the latest cinema blockbuster and much more

About the Company

In the UK and Ireland, Sodexo employs around 30,000 people, and partners with clients in many sectors across business and industry; schools and universities; sports and leisure; energy and resources; government and agencies; healthcare; justice and defence.

Sodexo’s connected; people-centric approach brings together a diverse range of expertise. The breadth of services it offers ranges from food and hospitality; cleaning; reception; concierge (Circles); security; property management and technical services through to data driven workplace strategy and design (Wx); employee engagement and recognition services (Sodexo Engage) and personal home services through Prestige Nursing + Care and the Good Care Group.  

Vital Spaces is Sodexo’s value proposition that puts people at the heart of everything we do, bringing together services and solutions and focusing on the productivity and wellbeing of people wherever they are.

Sodexo is committed to being an inclusive employer; we welcome and encourage applications from people with a diverse variety of experiences, backgrounds and identities.

We’re a Disability Confident Leader employer. We’re committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations. 

We are building on our support to the Armed Forces community through the development of specific pathways within our recruitment process to  support ex-forces personnel and reservists, those applying for jobs with us who meet the ideal candidate criteria for the role advertised are guaranteed to progress to the selection process